The Washington critic., 1887-12-22
DELUDING THE DoCToRs.
Tho Entcrprising Career of Dora strow-
bridge.

DNsfODhN0 AhAfs DCCAoAs's
Tho Entcrprising Career of Dora strow-
bridge.
Dora Strowbridgo, alias Dora Cart
wright, was tried to-day in the Criminal
Court on the charge Of obtaining money
under false pretenses. The Government
charges that on July Ia Dora came to
the Office of Dr. Harrison Crook, at 42i
Seventh street southwest, and presented
n fraudulent paper purporting to have
been signed by Drs. W. 2. G. Hazen
and 2. r. Sewers, thereby obtaining 81.
The letter was written on prescription
blanks and addressed to "Physicians of
Washington. II stated that the bearer
wasa widow Of DR.. VIM. Cartwright, an
old friend of theirs, who died some few
years since, leaving this widow and four
children destitute She was trying TO
get to Denver, Col, and needed s65. 1t
was q cause deserving of help.
The defendant presented this paper,
Mt the same time showing list of sums
Of money contributed amounting to
s55.75.
DR.. Crook was called to the stand. He
had contributed dollar, and u few
words of kindly encouragement. She
said that her husband had been n
school-mate OF Drs. .Hazen and Sewers.
On the strength Of tLe letter he gave
her the dollar and fcltglad he had done
SO. She was crying as well as talking.
She had baby with her. NJ. Taylor,
for the defense, asked whether he con-
tributed the dollar out of sympathy fol
her distressed condition or because of
"A In tAI hat hr
would have given the dollar on the
strength of the signature alone.
DIR. w. p. G. Hazen was called and
the letter was shown to him. He never
wrote it or authorized it. The letter
was handed to him and he could no,
read II.
DR.. z. T. Sewers also stated that he had
not written or authorized the paper. She
had come into his Office and stated that
she was the widow of the late DIR. Cart.
wright, and said II in such a manner that
he was afraid Of exposing his ignorance
by asking who DR.. Cartwright was. Sh,
had child with her at the time.
A child was shown in court which th6
defendant clasped in her arms, gazing a
il with spasmodically intense expires
sion of motherly affection.
The doctor thought that was the child
Officer Wheeler testified that he had
arrested her, and that she said that she
came from house Of shady reputation
In Baltimore.
Here the defendant opened her lips
for the first time with high-keyed ex.
plosion of: II never" She confessed
that she had written the letters herself
Regarding the statement as to the Balti'
more house Of ill-repute, she had ex
planned that sho got there by mistake
and left it as soon as she learned its
character.
AT the close OF Officer Wheeler's testi
mony Colonel Taylor walked over t
where the child, whom DR.. Crook ha6
identified, was sitting, and, picking 1t NJ
in his arms, went with dignified strid,
to point in front of the Judge, and in ai
impressive tone said: "Your Honor
wish it understood that we have no in
tcntion TO do anything for dramati,
effect, but If Your Honor please l viii
now offer this child in evidence for til,
purpose of showing that it was one o
the material influences leading to Mr.
Crooks contribution of ST."
Assistant Prosecutor Lipscomb gave (
convulsive snort; the Court put his hand
kerchief into his mouth and smile
struggled to the thin face of the prisoner
A general, laugh rose up, and only tn
Jury were proof against the humor of tn
Incident. Not q shadow of smile illu
minated the sombre solemnity of. tn
Jury box.
~ will have to object" said Mr.. Lips
comb, when he had recovered.
~'n 81 think will sustain objection I,
any marking of the child as an exhibi
In the case"
The astonished infant, who is littl
over q year old, cuddled down in tn
Colonel's arms and made Il mute bu
moving appeal for protection.
The Court thought that the purpos
Of the defense would be served by eS
hibiting the child to the jury.
Elizabeth B. Russell, the matron a
The Jail, testified as to the weak cond
ton of the defendant. This was 70
,he purpose of showing that her weak
physical condition was strong influ
snce on DIR. Crooks donation.
DIR. Sewers was called in rebuttal an
stated that as far as mental conditio
was concerned, he considered her rt
markably bright woman.
After the discussion Of some prayer
for instruction Mr.. Lipscomb opened tn
case for the Government.
The baby was in the country Will
the mother was in Jail, except for til
last few weeks, which ii has spent in s
Johns Orphanage. She saw the chill
in court for the first time in five month
when it was brought into court tn
morning. The child was disposed to /
playful, and as 1t pulled at the lor
crepe veil its mother wore, formed
very touching picture.
Colonel TAYLOR did not fail in his dut,
but pointing to the two called, in tren
ulous oratory, the iury's attention TO I'll
little scene with the inquiry: "Will 70
convict this mother AMI her child
The defendant says that she will nev,
part from the child again, whatever I'll
result Of the trial may be. She cXpec
All acquitial, and has made arrang
ncnts with the mother Of one Of Il
prisoners NJ the Jail to take care Of
while she goes out to work"
Ellks' Reception TO DIR. Leach.
The banquet and reception at the Hari
House last night, rendered by Washingtc
Lodge, No. l5. Il. =. o. Elks, to DIR. II.
Leach, recently elected exalted grand rul
Of the order, was \ most gracious al
pleasant expression of the orders estee
and grpUd-fellowship for its modest and han
some member II, his elevated pOsitio
About sixty persons were IN ntrcndaiit
including number Of distinguished Wis
ors. ~ the banquet, which WIS elabora
and satisfying, Mr.. Emmc, Urcl introduc
thr toas;-iniS,,r, Mr.. William Dickson, wl
in turn made II pretty little speech to |
Leach and gnye the Toast "Our Honor
flucSf ~ tn ,vhirh Tho nortt,r rpa1tnnnpl nlf